FEAR OF VICTIMISATION HELD BY BANK OFFICERS

Wanganui Chronicle, 18 February 1949, Page 4

FEAR OF VICTIMISATION HELD BY BANK OFFICERS

Hesitant To Come Forward To Give Evidence To Arbitration Court

WELLINGTON, Yesterday (PA).—ln the Court of Arbitration today, Mr. C. A. 11. Brunt, who appeared for New Zealand bank officers, who are seeking- an industrial award, said, when concluding his submissions to the court, that he did not intend to call evidence. lie said there was a fear complex in bank services which made every officer wary of coming forward.

His Honour (Mr. Justice Tyndall) : Are you not aware of the provisions regarding victimisation? They are pretty drastic and designed to protect workers. Mr. Brunt: Even so, our officers feel that victimisation would be enforced. He added that it could be done in one way or other, including transfers. Officers had also signed, as a condition of their employment, that they would not divulge bank dealings.. His Honour said he was rather alarmed that a fear of victimisation had been put forward, but it was no use an advocate making statements without substantiating them. Mr. Brunt stated in h* submissions that bank officers are among the last | of organised workers to seek an industrial award. A salary scale reachiing £620 in the 18th year of service is sought for male employees, and one reaching £360 in the 12th year for women. Mr. Brunt, for the applicant union, said the membership of 3272, at present on a voluntary basis, comprised all ranks from the most senior executive to recently appointed juniors. In Scotland, he said, the salary scales for bank employees reached £620, in Souuth Africa £640, and in Ireland £748. In Australian the Commonwealth Bank scales went to £6oo.

“And we understand that the New Zealand Reserve Bank scale reaches even a higher figure.” Mr. Brunt said. If the proposed salary scale were approved it would represent merely a 50 per cent, increase since 1939, or less than half of what the Government statistician’s figures showed as having applied to the community as a whole. Mr. Brunt, after referring to rush periods and the stress of work of bank employees, said: “The worry which seems to be inseparable from a banking career is largely' due to the fact that the officers realise that mistakes may result in a very serious financial loss to themselves. There have been cases where our members, in addition to having been reduced in status, have been crippled financially for years in repaying such losses." Another disadvantage of Ijank work was that it was the only occupation in which it was virtually inytossibie for an officer to change his employer. All banksg he said, were individually close corporations as far as staffs were concerned.

Mr. Brunt said the union was asking that any increase granted be retrospective to April 1 of last year. Extra pay above the salary scale was sought for accountants and branch managers. The hearing was adjourned until tomorrow.